Dems Deadlock On AG Candidate.

Setting the stage for a potentially bruising fight, three Democrats will contend for their party's nomination for state attorney general this spring.

After two rounds of balloting at the winter meeting of the Democratic State Committee, neither former Bucks County Congressman Patrick Murphy nor attorneys Dan McCaffery of Philadelphia and Kathleen Granahan Kane of Lackawanna County, were able to break through the two-thirds threshold needed to win the party's official endorsement.

The deadlock means that all three candidates will fight on until the April 24 party primary, as Democrats look to break the GOP's three-decade-old lock on the office. No Democrat has served as attorney general since it became an elected post in 1980.

Murphy, who represented the Eighth Congressional District for two terms from 2006 to 2010, trumpeted the fact that he'd won the support of 60 percent of the more than 300 Democratic foot soldiers in attendance at the session. That pointed to "a real excitement" for his candidacy, he said.

McCaffery, the brother of state Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery, said he believed that it's possible for the hopefuls to wage both a civil and competitive campaign.

"We need to run on our credentials," he said. "That's what people are focused on."

Kane, a former county prosecutor who has raised $2 million toward her bid, may have the lowest public profile of the three candidates. She said she was looking forward to getting on the trail.

The three candidates spent much of Friday night and all of Saturday morning trying to win the support of party loyalists as they shuttled between regional party caucuses and cocktail receptions.

Right now, only one Republican, Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed, is running for the GOP nomination for top cop.

Freed's only rival, state Sen. John Rafferty of Montgomery County, suspended his campaign earlier this week when it became clear that Gov. Tom Corbett intended to endorse Freed for the post.

Republicans hold their endorsement meeting on Jan. 27.

The attorney's general seat will be open for the first time since 2004 this year.

Former federal prosecutor Linda Kelly is serving out the unexpired term of Gov. Tom Corbett, who served as AG from 2004 until his election in 2010.

Kelly accepted the post on the condition that she not seek a full term of her own.

State Democrats also unanimously endorsed current state Treasurer Rob McCord of Montgomery County for a second, four-year term. Republican Diana Irey, a Washington County commissioner, is seeking the GOP endorsement for the post.

Eugene DePasquale, a state House member from York County, won the Democrats' endorsement for auditor general. Current Auditor General Jack Wagner, of Pittsburgh, is serving his second and final term.

Two Republicans, state Rep. John Maher of Allegheny County, and Frank Pinto, of Dauphin County, are seeking the GOP endorsement for the post.